Last weekend we celebrated my niece’s sixteenth birthday. Damn. Long days and short years indeed. Still, it was a good chance to catch up with that side of the family. I also find it amusing that the youngins are picking up crocheting. Which does give The Wife and my niece something to discuss. Plus, the niece was quite pleased when The Wife and MIL sent over a large bag of their excess yarn and hooks.

Last Sunday The Wife, BIL, SIL, and SIL’s friend – and me – went out on a boat excursion. Obstensibly the goal was to see dolphins and manatees. We caught a glimpse of a couple of dolphins, but no manatees. Wendell must have been having a company-wide meeting. We did see some spectacular coastal homes. We also found out that the captain’s wife works at The Wife’s old company. As The Wife puts it “insurance is a small world.”

I am applying for a new position. Nothing wrong with my current one, it’s just this is a really good opportunity for someone of my experience and skill set. So much of a good opportunity that I had no less than seven colleagues make sure that I was aware of the opening. I take that as a professional compliment. It’s been interesting because I haven’t had to apply for a position in probably thirteen years. And writing resumes for the .gov is not like doing one for the private sector. It’s also a big change, which brings up some irrational anxiety. Mostly irrational because I’m already doing part of the new position already (and have been for about five years now). Yet, I’ve been in the same job for the last thirteen years. I’ve made it my own, and that’s hard to leave. I also love my work team, which I would hate to leave. But it’s too good of an opportunity. It’s also most likely going to require some time in the office, which means we many need to acquire another Ward Wagon.

The clowder was very disturbed last Saturday when we did some furniture shuffling. MIL wanted to rearrange her room to give her more space – as well as lay down a new rug. Overall, the shifting went relatively easy. Unfortunately, it was a bit on the traumatic side for our tiny vampire cat who pretty much lives under MIL’s bed. She was scampering all through the house looking for a new place to avoid humans. Fortunately, TVC was more or less back to normal.

Sunday was spent with my family where we received some happy news (that I can’t share yet). However, since The Brother still has a bum leg, it meant The Wife and I had to pick him up and take him over to Mom’s. While we were waiting for dinner to cook, The Wife and I shot down to the 5.11 store. I wanted a new kilt for some upcoming adventures, and none of my current ones fit. Yes, I know. I’m working on that. We get to the store and are informed that there’s a big clearance sale going on – including kilts! We definitely spent more than we expected, but it was a successful raid. On the way home, The Brother commented that my main playlist was like listening to three people fight over the remote. Yeah, it’s a bit eclectic.

Tuesday we took Boo to the kitty cardiologist. He’s got some heart disease and some deformities in his heart – not unusual for a sphinx. That’s the bad news. The good news is that it’s not an immediate issue. So, we’re now on monitor and enjoy our little kitty. And somehow get it through his little head he’s not allowed on the counters.